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Japanese Maneki Neko
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Luck is loved by everyone, especially anyone who runs a business. This is even more important to Japanese merchants because they are extremely superstitious. They often place behind or in front of their stores some kinds of lucky charm, in the hope that their business will run smoothly. The most popular kind of lucky charm in Japanese stores is a figurine which has the shape of a cat waving its paw. That's the "Maneki Neko".
Maneki Neko is loved by everyone for its round face and lovely big eyes. That may be the reason why it is chosen as a symbol of luck. It looks like a cat waving his paw to greet the customers but actually, that's the gesture of a cat washing its face. The cat often washes its face whenever it feels the rain is coming. Moreover, because of its sensitivity, the cat often feels restless when there's someone coming near it. To release its fear, the cat washes its face. From this gesture of the cat, the Japanese assume that every time a cat washes its face there will come a customer. In addition to that, a cat washing its face looks like it is greeting someone. Therefore, the Japanese believe if they put a figurine of a cat with that "greeting" gesture in front of their stores, the customers will come in.
However, this is just aninterpretation. There are bundles of folktales and explanations why Maneki Neko is chosen as a lucky charm. However, the main characteristic of all the stories about Maneki Neko's origin is that the cat saved its owner from dangers or illness and poverty and the owner became prosperous.
Most people believe that it has different meanings when Maneki Neko waves its right paw or left paw. If it's waving with the right paw, that means there will be more luck and wealth to the merchant and if it's waving with the left paw, more customers will come in. The higher it waves the paw, the more customers, wealth and luck will come to the merchant.
Collecting Maneki Nekos is a hobby of many Japanese people and they even set up Maneki Neko clubs. Maneki Nekos nowadays are not only thought of as lucky charms for Japanese merchants but have become a symbol of luck to everyone in Japan and in many other countries around the world.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Japan [http://japan-guided.com/]
The Legends Of Kind Lucky Cats
In Japan, these figures are exhibited in front of shops, restaurants and businesses. According to folk wisdom, a raised right paw brings good luck, while a left raised paw brings clients. The lucky cats come in different forms: statues, key rings, flasks with air fresheners, etc.
When looking at the Manekineko, you might think that it's waving. In fact, it's calling you to come closer and do something. In the East (particularly in Japan), a person who beacons someone will raise their hand and move their fingers until they attract attention. Europeans do it similarly, but with their hand directed toward themselves. The cats for the Western markets often have a "Europeanized" paw direction.
The meaning of the raised paw changed over time. Cats with two raised paws are the best (just in case). It's believed that the higher the paw, the more luck the cat will draw.
The traditional color for "lucky cats" is a mix of white, black and red - the so-called "tricolor". The "tricolor" is common for the Japanese Bobtails. Along with the classical coloring they also make the following one-color figurines: White (purity), Black (reflects evil), Red (drives away evil and disease), Golden (wealth), and Pink (love).
Typically, the cats wear collars and bells. This symbolism has its roots in ancient times, when domestic cats in wealthy families wore collars and bells (to locate the pet). The figures can also wear a bib – clothing for cats in ancient families. Sometimes they are depicted with a coin (koban – worth about one thousand dollars) in their paws, to attract good luck and wealth. The figurines of cats with coins are often used as piggy banks.
There are many legends associated with these cats:
Temple Cat: A wealthy lord was hiding under a tree during a storm near a temple. Suddenly he saw the priest's cat waving to him. He followed the cat, and the next moment lightning struck the tree under which he was hiding. Soon the lord and the priest became friends, and the temple became very prosperous. When the priest's cat died, the first Maneki Neko prototype was made in its honor.
Young Lady: A young lady had a beloved cat. One night the cat began to drag her away. Another woman (her hostess) decided that the cat was bewitched and cut its head off. The cat's head flew off and crushed a snake ready to attack. The young lady was truly saddened by her pet's death. One man brought her a wooden cat figure to gladden her.
Old Woman: One old woman was so poor that she had to sell her cat. Later, her cat appeared to her in a dream and advised her to make a cat figurine from clay. In the morning the old woman did as advised and sold the figure. She started to make more figurines and sell them - thus she became very rich.
The image of Maneki Neko had a great influence on modern culture: the "Hello, Kitty!" character and the "Manekineko" book by Bruce Sterling, where the paw gesture is the symbol of a secret network based on artificial intelligence. This talisman in commonly used in feng shui. You can build your own figures of the feng shui lucky cats; they will draw luck and wealth into your home.
About the Author
Jakob Jelling runs http://www.fengshuicrazy.com which teaches the ancient art of feng shui. Please visit his website to learn more about feng shui lucky cats.
Can you tell me what the japanese writing means on this pic of a maneki neko?
does it mean anything at all? is it written correcty if it does?
http://oborochann.deviantart.com/art/Maneki-Neko-31359669
It means i love you.
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